Kohala Lighthouse Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s coming up for our shores.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – it’s a grim stretch ahead. We’re looking at a solid 16-day window, but the first real surf we can talk about doesn’t even show up until the afternoon of Saturday, August 1st, and even then, it’s not much to write home about. From now until then, we’ve got a long gap of nothing but messy, wind-affected junk. The winds are locked in from the ENE, blowing a fresh to strong breeze, and it’s just cross-shore chop day after day. The water temperature is sitting at a warm 80°F, which is about average for the time of year, but that’s the only thing that’s normal.

The only spot we’ve got to look at is Kohala Lighthouse. It’s an advanced reef break, exposed to the swell, and it’s consistent when there’s swell. The problem is, the swell is coming from the ENE, and the optimum direction for this place is from the north. What we’re getting is a short-period, wind-driven chop, not the nice groundswell it needs.

On Saturday afternoon, August 1st, the swell bumps up to 8 ft from the ENE, with a period of 8 seconds. The combined energy hits 1084 (moderate to strong), so there’s power in the water, but it’s all wind-swell. The wind is still cross-shore at 22 mph, so the surface is going to be lumpy and messy. It’s a marginal call at best, and honestly, with that size and shape, it’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a clean paddle-surfing one. The waves are going to be choppy, and the current will be a handful.

The rest of the period is more of the same, really. The swell bounces between 4 ft and 7 ft, but the wind never lets up, and the period stays short. There’s a brief moment on the morning of Tuesday, August 4th, where the period stretches to 11 seconds, which would normally get my attention – that’s proper groundswell energy. The swell is 6 ft from the ENE (695 combined energy), and while the wind is still a moderate cross-shore, it’s the cleanest option in the whole stretch. But with that long-period swell coming from the wrong direction for the reef, it’s going to be inconsistent and fat. It’s not a standout, just a slight glimmer in a very dull outlook.

Bottom line: If you’re desperate for a paddle, Tuesday morning, August 4th, is your best bet, but keep the expectations low. The rest of the time, the wind is going to ruin it. This is a tough run for the area.

Rusty.

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